Plea deal agreed to in second-degree murder case

Staff report

Published: Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.

OCALA - Adam Lafrance, the 19-year-old charged with murder for fatally beating another man in retribution for an earlier act, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of probation, after entering a plea agreement with state prosecutors.

Lafrance was facing life in prison on his second-degree murder charge and was set to go to trial next week.

Circuit Judge Brian Lambert agreed to the deal Tuesday.

Lafrance, who pleaded guilty to his charge, also was sentenced to five concurrent years for possession of marijuana in jail.

He is accused of beating 25-year-old Joshua Wilbur by the side of the road last August, believing the victim had burglarized his brother's home months before. Wilbur was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida, where he underwent brain surgery and spent a week in a coma with massive head injuries. His family eventually decided to take him off life support.

<p>OCALA - Adam Lafrance, the 19-year-old charged with murder for fatally beating another man in retribution for an earlier act, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of probation, after entering a plea agreement with state prosecutors. </p><p>Lafrance was facing life in prison on his second-degree murder charge and was set to go to trial next week.</p><p>Circuit Judge Brian Lambert agreed to the deal Tuesday. </p><p>Lafrance, who pleaded guilty to his charge, also was sentenced to five concurrent years for possession of marijuana in jail.</p><p>He is accused of beating 25-year-old Joshua Wilbur by the side of the road last August, believing the victim had burglarized his brother's home months before. Wilbur was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida, where he underwent brain surgery and spent a week in a coma with massive head injuries. His family eventually decided to take him off life support.</p><p>Court records show the defendant had no previous criminal history.</p><p><i>Suevon Lee</i></p>